[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 483: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4752: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3887)[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4754: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3887)[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4755: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3887)[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4756: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3887)Strangeways • View topic - Week 19: WordsAsOldAsSin

Next weeks nomination is forthcoming, but here is the main event-- what we've allll been waiting for--- WORDS AS OLD AS SIN!

I absolutely love travelling- do you have any funny travelling stories?

I'm afraid all the funny things that happen tend to be at the airport rather than the destination. If I'm honest, nothing extremely funny has happened to me before so this is pretty bad, I'm sorry I cant give you a better answer

I've had quite a few funny airport stories:

- The time we were late to get on our plane and just before we went to the place of boarding my mum dropped the tickets and the wind picked them up and blew them away: there were like 4 mad people in the airport screaming and running after the tickets, I swear we must have looked ridiculous to everyone else.

- what with all the extra airport security, "random" checks have been happening more often, I cant tell you how much fun we've had with all of this :/

Once this woman wanted to check my mum's bag and she looked so petrified of us (I swear if we were carrying guns, she could have not looked more scared). So when she took the bag, my mum offered to open it for her and screamed "NO! DONÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢T TOUCH THE BAG!" back at her and she was shaking a little bit. She kept taking items out the bag really slowly like any second something was going to explode. Naturally, you cant take these things too personally otherwise you'd just get upset so as the women finished checking the bag and put the stuff back in it, my mum took the bag back, leaned in close to the woman and said really quietly "boo" the woman actually jumped in fear. You had to be there but it was just so funny!

Tell us something neat that would otherwise never come up on the forum!Something neat? Hmmm, how about some fun facts? (bet you wished you never asked now ):

- The most popular first name in the world is Muhammad! (Want proof? Come to Egypt and shout the name Muhammad, see what happensÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦)

- Skepticisms is the longest word that alternates hands when typing! (go on, try it, I know you want to )

- The electric chair was invented by a dentist! (Bet you're scared now!)

- It's against the law to pawn your dentures in Las Vegas! (aww dammit)

- Alaska law says that you can't look at a moose from an airplane. (donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t do it folks, its just not worth it)

- In North Carolina, it is against the law for dogs and cats to fight.

What did you do yesterday?

Yesterday, I had an Economics midterm exam (Macro economics for those who are especially interested.) I think it went ok; I revised quite hard for it so I was hoping I'd feel confident doing the exam. I've done 4 out of 5 midterm exams now, I've only got Arabic left, which is actually the one I'm most worried about (since I lived in England for so long my Arabic speaking is good but my reading and writing is a bit weak :/). I've got the exam on Saturday, wish me luck!

What brought you to Morrissey and the Smiths?ooh erm, I always hate admitting this because itÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s a little bit embarrassing.

Ok so, flash back to 4/5 years ago, I was in a maths class and somehow the topic of 'charmed' came up, so I mentioned that I loved the theme tune but I had no idea who it was by. A girl next to me then tells me that it's by a band named The Smiths and that I should check them out.

So I was really excited when i heard this because I thought it was the smiths who sang that version on the charmed theme tune. When I got home I searched the song and listened to it only to find that I wasnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t the version I was looking for, naturally, I was disappointed but for some reason, I didnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t want to stop listening to this band just yet, in a 'related songs' section of this website I found a song called ' hand in glove' and decided to listen to that.

I discovered how much I liked it and started listening to other songs by them; soon, I was an addict and started listening to them everyday and trying to find out more about this amazing band.

Fast forward five years later and I still can't stop listening to this band

Are the Smiths your favourite band?

Yes. I can honestly say, I have never felt the same way about any other band as I do for the smiths, theyÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve been such a big part of my life for the last five years that I donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t think I can really like any other band more.

Do you play any instruments?Yes I do but not very well I have to say .

I've been playing drums for 4 years and Bass guitar for 3. I'm probably more of a Bass guitar girl though

*Poof* I am a magical genie! You have been given three wishes, what are they?

1. I would call a meeting with all the world leaders and have a huge discussion about what is the most prominent problem in the world right now and what can we do to stop it, then, I would ask you, genie, to eliminate this problem from the world whether it be war, world hunger, Paris Hilton, Aids, cancerÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦you get the idea

2. I would then ask the genie to make sure that me, my family and all the future generations are financially secure for the rest of our lives.

3. I'd probably waste this wish on something trivial because I wouldnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t be able to think of anything else, or maybe I could save it for later?

What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

Oh wouldnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t you like to know ;p

What prompted you to move to Egypt?Many reasons, I'll try to keep it brief so that the forum doesnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t die of boredom:

First and foremost, my mum had been struggling to keep doing what she was doing in England; her job was too stressful, she didnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t have many friends and since we have no family in England we were really quite isolated. At the same time, I was getting bored of doing the same thing day in, day out and was looking for some sort of new adventure so I agreed to it and thought, why not?

Also, what most people donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t understand is that, you do miss your home country, no matter how great another country may be, there's nothing like your own.

I've met many Palestinians who were living in England and dying to go back to Palestine, despite the dangers over there. There is just something about being in your original home that you can't quite beat

What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?

I wouldnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t say this is the most embarrassing but this one certainly sticks in my mind:

I saw my friend on the road in Egypt one day so I went up to her and was like "hi!!"

So in Egypt to greet people you air kiss them on both cheeks, so I did that. Since I hadnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t seen her for such a long time I was like "omg, I've missed you so much, how've you been? You look great! How's your family?, oh do say hi to your mum for me" and I pretty much kept talking to her for like five minutes without really giving her a chance to speak. When she finally got a word in edgeways, she looked at me stunned and said

Turns out it wasnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t actually my friend but someone who looked exactly like her :S, the girl looked quite scared of me

What have you enjoyed most about living there? Least?

I'm assuming you mean in Egypt?

The things I most enjoyed:

1. The food ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ oh god, travel the whole world if you want to but I promise you there is NOTHING like Egyptian cooking, youÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢re a food fanatic like myself, you'll appreciate the beauty of its diverse cuisine. We're obviously very influenced by the Mediterranean with foods from Greece, turkey, Italy etc. Egyptian food is truly the most delicious type you will come across.

2. The weather: sun, sun and more sun. You will NEVER get tired of waking up to it , right now its sunny with a cool breeze.

3. The life: this applies to most of Egypt but especially to Cairo. This is the real city that never sleeps, and I mean not even for a second. Usually when I'm off uni , I go out everyday and come home around 4 a.m, and thatÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s nothing out of the ordinary since my grandmother does the same!

You see, the Egyptians love to talk, interact and eat and none of this is possible when they're asleep so they donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t really go to sleep much

Worst things about living here:

the traffic and pollution ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ most of the Egyptian population (around 8 million) live in Cairo or Alex (for several reasons which would really bore you if I started discussing!). This means that these cities have become largely over crowded and polluted. What once was a journey that took us 15 minutes by car now takes us 45 minutes.Ok, you want proof? To get to my uni every single day it should take me around 45 mins to an hour. It takes me approximately 2 hours going there and 2 and 1/2 hours coming back and this has become completely normal now. Take note, if you ever want to live in Egypt you better get used to loving your ipod/radio because its going to be what you spend your most time with in the car.

2. The corruption ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ there's a lot of corrupt people over here, thatÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s all I'm saying.

Would you consider moving to any other country in the Midddle East?

UrmÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ right now most Middle East countries are not exactly the safest places to live so it would be difficult but if I had a choice it would be:

LebanonJordanSyriaBut Egypt is the nicest one soÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦.i donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t think id want to move

How did you feel about middle school (or whatever name your school system gives to being in school at 12 and 13 years old)?

WellÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦.. I think it was alright, it wasnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t the worst experience of my life but it wasnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t the best either.

I mean , I used to have ADD (I say used to because it was quite prominent back then but its mild now) so I didnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t make a lot of friends around 12-14 , around 15 though, I started to come out of own world a little bit more and started to make friends.

It wasnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t all that bad but I wouldnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t want to repeat it.

What are your goals and ambitions for your life?1. To live a good life doing good things that help people and please God.

2. I want to be genuinely happy from the heart with whatever I end up with, whether it be a great job, a wonderful mansion and loads of money or a modest flat with a big family and simple life.

3. I think id like to be fulfilled job wise too, Id want to a job that was interesting and I was good at

What's the best thing about being you?My family: I really do have such a nice family, I thank God everyday that im with them, they get me through the hardest times.

Whats the worst thing about being you?urmm..... i think the worse thing is having to travel 4 hours everyday to uni

ahh no, I'm not sure, i think people would hate to be me if they realised how paranoid i was.

Is there a question you wish you had been asked? If yes, please tell us and answer itI think you guys really went all the way with these questions but i always like to be asked questions on certain things i know a lot about (just so i can babble on really!) but i think some of you have already done that with regards to questions about Egypt.

oooh i know! no one asked the dessert island cliche question!

Q. If you were on a dessert island, what would be the one thing you'd bring with you?

A. If the Island had signal then a mobile but if it didn't then an ipod with limited memory and charge.

What's your dream job?

I really want to be a journalist for the Egyptian media, i feel right now , it's stuck in a rut and id like to be the one of the people to change it!

If you were given one global-scale problem to solve in any means you wished, what would it be, and how would you go about designing and implementing a solution?

Personally i think the very basic world thirst and hunger are the most important issues today, i mean, it's the minimal requirement of living.

I don't think i know enough about the ways in which to solve this problem so i would definitely call in the experts, anyone that has an idea, i would even send ads and notices asking people for help and ideas (millions of brains are better than one!). I would then look and analyse, with my experts, the best ideas and use more than one to see what would be the most effective.

I'd start off with the place most in need (personally, i think Darfur is in pretty bad shape right now) and if this plan worked there then i would go on to use it with all other countries.

What is life to you? (Note: "42" is not a valid response. )

aww and that was going to be my answer as well! (kidding, i swear!)

wow..........thats not an easy one to answer.

this is for ME personally, i think everyone should be free to believe and think whatever they want but this is my personal opinion which applies to me exclusively:

A big part of my everyday life and how i handle things comes from my faith, Islam.

I believe in doing good things that benefit everyone and not just yourself. Selfless acts which should come naturally and not with resentment.

I think we are put on this earth for a certain reason and if we are given the capabilities to do things and we dont then we have wasted our purpose. for example:

if God gave you brains - you try to figure a cure for cancer/become a teacher to others

if God gave you money - you use to help those who dont have it, afterall, if we were in their place we'd want the same help.

Therefore, life to me is about serving a certian purpose, something which is not only helpful to you but to others aswell.

You seem very creativeÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âquickly, make up a fake biography for your lifeÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ as a superhero!

such a good question!!

urmmm, this is off the top of my head quick so if its rubbish , you only have yourself to blame!

lets see: i'd be a super hero everyone needs and my hip super name would be "right change girl"

imagine the scenario:

you're in tescos/wallmart buying some chewing gum for 25p/cents when OH NO! all of a sudden you discover all you have is a crisp Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£20/$20 note that you really dont want to break into, i mean just look at that note, its clean and pretty and if you break into it you know you'll get all this awkward change that will hang around in your wallet for years to come. Oh the horror!

but HAVE NO FEAR, RIGHT CHANGE GIRL IS HERE!

i will magically transform whatever pound notes you have into the right change you need so you're not left with a wallet full of 5ps and 20ps.

How did i get this way you ask?

its a sad story actually, one day, i was attempting to pay for a mars bar at my local corner shop when all of a sudden, this radioactive till comes to life and starts chasing after me, i tried to run but it was just too fast , so this radioactive till bit me and gave super human right change powers.

and the rest...is history

(haha, okay, i challenge anyone to make up a more lame story, i will personally pay you if you can!)

What is the one thing you most want people to remember about you?

I guess that i'm a good person who would gladly help anyone if they ask for it.

That would be a sweet thing for people to remember me by.

And when life is all said and done, what would your epitaph be?Here lies Nourana fun lovera hard workerand a generally all around nice girl

A note upon his desk"P.S. Bring Me Home And Have Me!"Leather elbows on a tweed coat-Oh!-Is THAT the best you can do ?So came his reply :"But on the desk is where I want you!"